HCM City (VNA) – The innovative start-up conference and technology expo held in Ho ChiMinh City on October 27-28 is expected to create new opportunities for Vietnamese andFinnish businesses, investors and universities in the fields of education andtraining as well as developing smart and innovative cities and building astart-up innovation ecosystem, said Deputy Minister of Science and TechnologyTran Quoc Khanh.

He said the Governmentof Vietnam has been continuously affirming its strong commitment of boostingstart-up innovation activities, which is considered an important solution toincreasing the quantity and quality of Vietnamese businesses, he said.

Vietnam's southern economichub is expected to take the lead nationwide in investment resources for theestablishment of a start-up innovation ecosystem, he added.

Finnish Ambassador toVietnam Kari Kahiluoto shared that the relations between Vietnam and Finland have seen strongdevelopment over the past few years, not only in trade cooperation but alsoscience and technology, including innovation.

Vice Chairman of themunicipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem said HCM Citydefines sustainable economic development model toward intellectual economy andgreen growth based on science-technology, innovation, and start-ups.

The initiative ofhosting the Ho Chi Minh City Innovation Startup and Entrepreneurship Week 2017 from October 23-28 demonstrates itscommitment to facilitating, supporting and accompanying start-up businesseswith a view to turning HCMCity into a start-up andinnovative city in the country and beyond, he said.

He noted that localauthorities have put forth a number of policies and mechanisms to supportstart-up and innovation activities such as launching a programme to supportsmall-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and improving their competitivenessand international integration in 2016-2020, implementing the Government’sResolution supporting businesses through 2020, and planning to improve thestart-up ecosystem in the city.

The city has alsoactively participated in international cooperation programmes such as the FinlandInnovation Partnership Programme (IPP) and the VietnamSillicon Valley,he added.-VNA